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Technology changing the way schools communicate
In the days before Internet and cell phones, communication between school and parents usually involved sending a note home with the student or making individual phone calls. Students have been waiting by the radio or TV for years to see if they will get a snow day.
Friday, January 27, 2012 |
Flip through the pages of this week's Fillmore County Journal on the homepage or watch new local videos in any section of this website...
What do you think of this website? We are always looking for ways to improve........... E-mail us at editor@fillmorecountyjournal.com
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| Norwegian Ancestry
A Tour of Norway's Stavkirker
Deb Nelson Gourley
1/1/1900 | | Finding ancestral links to stave churches | | Norway's national costume
Deb Nelson Gourley
9/29/2002 | | The bunad is rooted in heritage and tradition | | Amherst had Indians and wolves
Introduction by Deb Nelson Gourley
Story by Jo
1/1/1900 | Jesse James stopped here on his way to Northfield
| | Letters from Norway - A Glimpse of Diversity - 5/9/11
Courtney Bergey
5/6/2011 | By Courtney Bergey
A Glimpse of Diversity
From my experiences in Lillehammer so far, I have realized that Norway is a pretty homogeneous country. The nation does have a fair amount of refugees from Africa and eastern Europe, but very few people are visibly non-Scandinavian. | | Letters From Norway - 5/30/11
Courtney Bergey
5/27/2011 | Home Sweet Lillehammer
When I first arrived in Norway, winter had a firm grip on the country. The mountain forest would be frosted white every morning, and the ground was permanently blanketed with fluffy snow and ice. I adored the site of Norway in the winter. | |
| Government
Harmony City Council discusses Dobie Days issues
Jade Wangen
1/13/2012 | | The Harmony City Council meeting almost got out of hand on January 10 as Mayor Steve Donney had to put a stop to an argument among audience members regarding the Dobie Days celebration and the portion of 3rd Ave. SE owned by Corey Scrabeck. | | Lundy appointed to Chatfield Cable TV Access board
Karen Reisner
1/27/2012 | | At the January 23 Chatfield City Council meeting, high school student Dalton Lundy was approved to be the student representative on the Cable Television Access Board. Mayor Don Hainlen said he is a fine young man that has a lot of interest in doing this and he has agreed to be the student representative. | | Government this week
1/27/2012 | • Wednesday, February 1, Canton City Council, Canton City Hall, 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, February 2 Fountain City Council, Fountain City Office, 7:30 p.m. | | Rushford approves tax abatement for levee project
Kirsten Zoellner
1/27/2012 | | A public hearing regarding proposed property tax abatement for the purpose of financing repairs to the city's levee system received little fanfare, perhaps rightly so. According to Mike Bubany, a city consultant with the firm David Drown Associates, the abatement will have no real ramifications to homeowners. | | Root River Country Club looks to the future to remain "par" financially
Gary Peterson
1/27/2012 | The Spring Valley City Council approved several items of business on Monday night.
Approved the purchase of equipment For $59,693 the City purchased a Toolcat from Bobcat that will perform several functions in the street department. The whole list is detailed on eight pages from the company, Bobcat of Rochester. | |
| Agriculture / Horticulture
Winter Crops Day returns to Caledonia
Jerrold Tesmer, Extension Educator for Fillmore/Ho
12/16/2011 | | Ag Producers in southern Minnesota just finished a season that included a wet spring, a hot summer, and a dry fall. No one knows what is in store for the 2012 season, but crop management decisions are underway now, and that will be the focus of the University of Minnesota, Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) annual Winter Crops day. | | Winter grazing update
By Jerrold Tesmer
1/5/2012 | | Have you started making plans to improve your grazing in 2012? There will be a Winter Grazing Update on Saturday, January 21 at the Good Times Restaurant in Caledonia. | | Is the land rent bubble starting to boil?
Jerrold Tesmer, Extension Educator for Fillmore/Ho
12/22/2011 | | Last year, I started out by asking if we were looking at a land rent bubble. A couple of weeks ago I completed the Houston County Land Rent Survey, and now have results from the Fillmore County Land Rent Survey. | | Private pesticide certification workshops
Jerrold Tesmer, Extension Educator for Fillmore/Ho
1/6/2012 | | Six Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Workshops have been scheduled for Fillmore, Houston, and Winona Counties. If you are one of the 207 in Fillmore County, one of the 70 in Houston County, or one of the 101 in Winona County due for recertification, you should have received a reminder postcard from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in mid-December. | | Cow/Calf Days
Jerrold Tesmer, Extension Educator for Fillmore/Ho
1/27/2012 | The 2012 Minnesota Beef Cow/Calf Day will be held Thursday, February 9 at America's Best Value Inn in Rochester from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. The topics for the evening's agenda are as follows.
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| Arts & Culture
SEMAC awards Artists in Education grants
10/14/2011 | | On August 16, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Inc. (SEMAC) awarded five Artists in Education Grants, for a total of $10,000 in funding to schools and educational institutions in southeastern Minnesota. | | Commonweal Theatre dedicates performance of Parfumerie to Habitat for Humanity
11/11/2011 | | The Commonweal Theatre Company in Lanesboro will be presenting a special performance of its Christmas play, Parfumerie on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m., as a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties. | | Video and sculpture artist Dave Beck will be artist in residence in January 2012 at Lanesboro Arts Center
1/3/2012 | | Coming soon! Video and sculpture artist Dave Beck will come to Lanesboro January 3 - 17, 2012, as Artist in Residence with the Lanesboro Arts Center. | | SEMAC announces February 1 grant application deadline
11/25/2011 | | The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council announces a call for grant proposals in three categories. Postmark deadline is February 1, 2012. Projects must take place between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. | | CEDA facilitates $30,000 for Harmony Theater
11/25/2011 | | CHATFIELD, MN- Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) is excited to announce its partnership with the Trust for a Better Harmony to make $30,000 available to the Harmony JEM Movie Theater digital projector fund. Acting as a third-party fiscal agent for the Trust, CEDA closed today on a $20,000 forgivable loan and $10,000 no-interest loan to the JEM Theater. | |
| Progress Edition
Mabel working on new community center
Jade Wangen
1/27/2012 | | Jim Westby was the Mayor of Mabel for several years. Over the last few years, there has been a lot of controversy in town over the construction of a brand new Community Center. After Westby lost the last election, the council and the Mabel Economic Development Authority asked him to continue on as project manager for the Community Center project. | | Trailside Campground debuts in Rushford Village
Kirsten Zoellner
1/27/2012 | | Rushford Village is one step and a few months closer to getting a hold of more of those often elusive tourism dollars. Newly developed Trailside Campground will make its debut along the Root River Trail this spring, as seasonal tourists begin pouring into the area. | | A gathering place for Canton residents
Jade Wangen
1/27/2012 | | Along the highway outside of Canton there is a place to fuel up your vehicle, as well as eat a good meal. For the last four years, TJ's Café has been not only a convenient place to stop on your way through town, but also a place for local people to meet and socialize. They have recently extended their hours for Friday night fish dinner. | | Heritage Grove of Harmony celebrating ten years
Jade Wangen
1/27/2012 | | Ten years ago this year, Harmony created a place for people to go who were not ready to go into the nursing home, but still not able to live on their own. Heritage Grove was built as an assisted living center, but it is much more than just that. | | Incremental improvements for Center for the Arts
Karen Reisner
1/27/2012 | | Raising money for the refurbishing of Chatfield's old elementary buildings has been a challenge in this time of tight budgets and slow economic growth. However, progress is being made in part by stretching the funding with the gifts of time and labor by members of the community. | |
| Sports
Burros' new program
By Jason Sethre
9/5/2011 | | Above: Carson Schwichtenberg, son of Jeff and Gretchen, breaks tackles during a recent 5th/6th grade Lanesboro School football practice. | | Ready, Set, Go...2011 sports begins
By Paul Trende
9/5/2011 | Summer may still be in bloom, but all the spiking and setting in the gyms, cracking and crunching on the fields, make it abundantly clear autumn is on the horizon. With that naturally come fall sports, with the gals getting things started first.
| | First full week of high school sports action
By Paul Trende
9/12/2011 | | Last year, Lanesboro made it all the way to the 9-man football state title game. The run wasn't without a couple early season bumps though. One came against Mabel-Canton in the season opener. To begin the 2011 season, history seemed poised to repeat itself. | | Scheevel member of Luther women's basketball team
11/4/2011 | | Decorah, Iowa - Alison Scheevel, a 2008 graduate of Fillmore Central High School, is a member of the Luther College women's basketball team. Amanda (Nechuta) Bailey begins her first season as head coach for the Norse. | | Basketball preview
By Paul Trende
12/2/2011 | | The 2010-2011 GBB season was good for three Fillmore County teams. Kingsland (13-7, 17-11), Chatfield (13-7, 17-10), and Fillmore Central (14-6, 20-8) all put together successful seasons, the later just clipping the formers for 2nd place in the Three Rivers (behind Caledonia). | |
| State of Minnesota
MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS EARLY IN 2011
By Michele Kimball, Director, AARP Minnesota
10/27/2011 |
Medicare Open Enrollment season has begun. If that seems a bit early to you - you're right. This year the Open Enrollment period begins and ends early (Oct. 15th - Dec. 7th). In previous years the enrollment period began closer to November and extended until the end of December. | | Root River Bike Trail update
7/1/2011 | Until the middle of July the only bridge being worked on is the big confluence bridge about 1.5 miles north of Lanesboro. The bridge is closed to trail users from 7am-6pm Mon- Fri, EXCEPT for this week where no bridge work will be done between Thursday evening and the following Wednesday morning, (June 30th - July 6th).
In the case of a government shutdown the contractor will not be working at all and the trail will remain open. It just would not be monitored or maintained. | | Mn/DOT to repair pavement cracks on nine highways in southeastern Minnesota
5/23/2011 | | ROCHESTER, Minn. - Motorists can expect brief lane closures as crews make pavement repairs on various highways in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha and Winona counties beginning Monday, May 16. Flaggers will control traffic during the lane closures. | | TILLWATER TEENS AGAIN WIN TRAFFIC SAFETY TV CONTEST
6/2/2011 |
ST. PAUL - For a second year, teenage students from Stillwater Area High School won the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS)-AAA Don't Drive Distracted, Teens! TV Commercial Challenge. | |
Minnesota cannot rely
on policies of the past
6/15/2011 | | |
| Journal Student Writing Project
Journal Writing Project - Always last minute
Jessica Lawler
5/6/2011 | By Jessica Lawler
This may sound weird, but it took me until my senior year to notice something about me. I have always gotten my work done, and always got the grades I wanted. The thing I didn't realize is how much I procrastinated.
My teacher had been hounding me about my physics paper for weeks. He assigned it to us at the beginning of the semester and I continued to put it off and put it off. | | Journal Writing Project - Choosing your path
Mitchell Wlbridge
5/13/2011 | By Mitchell Walbridge
As my junior year at Lanesboro High School comes to a close, I observe the events of the class of 2011: scholarship banquets, baccalaureate, graduation, discussion of final summer plans, and freshmen year college anticipation. Taking in these events from a junior's perspective is an eye-opening realization of how fast time passes, and how soon I will have to make inevitable decisions on which direction I plan to take for my future. | | Journal Writing Project - The significance of setting goals
Jennifer Quanrud
5/24/2011 | By Jennifer Quanrud
How many of us have set goals before and not really worked towards them? I know I have. Before my senior year I had a tendency to do this. I have realized if you set goals and achieve them you are more motivated to do things and accomplish them.
| | Journal Writing Project - Home - 5/2/11
Katie Ristau
4/29/2011 | By Katie Ristau
Home, it's where the heart is, home sweet home. Dictionary.com defines home as a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household. To me, home is what has made me who I am today. I believe that everyone has their own definition of what "home" is to them. | | Student Writing Project
Jade Wangen
11/4/2011 | | This year marks the 13th year that the Fillmore County Journal has been publishing articles written by local high school students for the Journal Student Writing Project. Each fall we contact the local high schools and ask for juniors and seniors who have an interest in writing. | |
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| Features
Bristol Township Community Chest Drive
1/20/2012 | | The Bristol Township Community Chest Drive for the year 2011 has been completed with $1070 collected from 31 families. Contributions have been sent to the following charities: | | Habitat for Humanity receives generous donation
1/27/2012 | | PRESTON, Minn.- F & M Community Bank recently donated $13,158.45 to Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties. Early in 2011 Dan Christianson, CEO and Chairman of the Board, from F & M Community Bank challenged the local Habitat for Humanity Committees to raise $20,000 and the bank would match 50¢ for every $1 donated up to $10,000. | | Owl photography contest
1/27/2012 | | We're looking for awesome owl photos for our 2012 International Festival of Owls photography contest in Houston, MN! This year the contest is switching to digital entries, so you don't even have to leave home to enter (assuming you already have that great owl shot on your computer). | | Affordable home loans available through USDA Rural Development
1/27/2012 | | Low-income families and residents of southeastern Minnesota counties are eligible for a home ownership loan through USDA Rural Development. | | Owl Festival registration is open
1/27/2012 | | Advanced registration for the 10th annual International Festival of Owls, to be held March 2-4 in Houston, MN, is now open. Several events are expected to sell out and prices will increase after February 26, so be sure to register soon. | |
| Court
Court Report
8/19/2011 | | On Friday, August 12, 2011, two people appeared before Judge Robert Benson at the Fillmore County Courthouse. Both Juan Canales Lumbreras, (a.k.a. Juan Francisco Canales), 19, and Maylcol Amaya Lopez (a.k.a. Israel Garcia), 19, of Rochester were charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with use of force or coercion, which holds a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, $40,000, or both. | | Court Report
8/5/2011 | | On Monday, August 1, 2011, Jeremy James Shoemaker of Zumbrota, age 27, appeared before Judge Robert Benson in the Fillmore County District Court for sentencing. Shoemaker pled guilty to theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and $10,000. | | Court Reports
7/15/2011 | | On Monday, June 27, Veronica Juneau (a.k.a. Soukup), 22, appeared before Fillmore County Judge Robert Benson for sentencing. The prosecuting attorney was Brett Corson. The defendant waived her right to legal representation. She pled guilty to Count 2 - Theft, which holds a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, $20,000, or both. The other charges were dismissed. | | Fillmore County District Court
7/29/2011 | | On July 25, Tyler Edwin Stork, age 27, of Harmony, made a first appearance before Judge Robert Benson in the Fillmore County Court. Stork was charged with two counts of theft, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, $200,000, or both. | | Fillmore County Court Report - 11/7/11
11/4/2011 | | On October 31, 2011, Nicholas Charlebois, 33, of Lanesboro, appeared before Judge Robert Benson for sentencing. Charlebois was charged with possession of marijuana in the 5th degree, which has a maximum sentence of five years in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. | |
| Health & Wellness
Health officials investigate two cases of measles in Dakota County infants
8/22/2011 |
The Minnesota Department of Health is working closely with Dakota County Public Health and area health care providers in investigating two cases of measles in young children who live in Dakota County.
| | Drive-Thru Vaccination Exercise
9/16/2011 | | You are invited to view Fillmore County Public Health's Drive-Thru Vaccination Exercise, which will take place on Monday, September 19, 2011, from 5:15 to 6:45 PM, rain or shine, at 902 Houston Street North, Preston, MN. | | Flu vaccine appointments available
10/28/2011 | | Influenza is a common disease that can be serious and even life threatening. Despite recent research study concerns about the effectiveness of influenza vaccine, it is still the most useful tool we have to protect people from becoming ill. | | Harmony Bloodmobile collects 66 units
9/30/2011 | | The blood drive held in Harmony on September 27, 2011, succeeded in collecting 66 units of blood. There were 61 donors that presented with two first-time participants. Congratulations to these four donors who reached the following milestones: | | Mabel Blood Drive
9/30/2011 | Mabel Community Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, October 13th from 2:00 - 7:00 pm at the Mabel American Legion (114 N. Main Street). For appointments or additional information, contact Bev at 493-5284. Sixteen-year-olds are eligible to donate with a signed consent form. All eligible donors are needed!
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| Faith & Worship
Piano/Organ concerts in Fillmore County
8/8/2011 | | Dr. Curtis Mathison from Spring Valley High School Class of 1948 is presenting two identical piano-organ concerts in Fillmore County. | | Fillmore youth bible quiz team places third in national tournament
7/8/2011 | | On June 27 - July 1, 2011, the youth Bible quiz team of the Fillmore Free Methodist Church placed third in a Senior Teen Veteran Division at the National Bible Quiz Finals at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan. About 500 teenagers and adults from across the United States competed on 92 youth teams, jumping off electronic seats to answer Bible questions about the Gospel of John. | | Fillmore Free Methodist Church Groundbreaking Ceremony
8/26/2011 | | On Sunday, June 26, the Fillmore Free Methodist Church (in the village of Fillmore) held a groundbreaking ceremony for an addition to the church building. The planned construction is a new fellowship hall and entryway. | | Church delivers river baptisms
Alissa Shannon
6/24/2011 | By Alissa Shannon
Root River Community Church in Rushford is home to an interesting and old-fashioned tradition: river baptisms. On Sunday, May 16, Root River Community Church began its weekly service as usual. Walking into the church before the service started, everyone congregated in the lobby, including the Pastor, and any first-time guests were spotted and welcomed immediately (including myself). | | Preston churches host fundraiser dinner
6/10/2011 | | Preston's annual Progressive Ecumenical Dinner will be held Monday, June 27, 2011. This event, meant for one and all (ladies and gentlemen alike), is sponsored by the Preston churches. The evening begins with appetizers at 6:00 p.m. at St. Columban's Catholic Church. | |
| The Great Outdoors
Houston Nature Center & tent camping open for business
7/15/2011 | | The Houston Nature Center is owned and operated by the City of Houston, with no state (or county) funding. There you can meet Alice the Great Horned Owl, check out the hands-on nature displays, extensive native prairie plantings, and recycled bicycle art. There are also walk-in tent sites available for camping at only $13/night on a first-come, first-serve basis. | | Swifts enjoy communal roost in Preston
By Karen Reisner
9/5/2011 | | About twenty bird and nature enthusiasts spent a pleasant evening, Wednesday August 31, at the Trailhead parking lot watching a current local phenomenon. | | Prairie Walk at Houston Nature Center
9/12/2011 | | Come for an easy one hour walk along the award-winning Houston levee prairie in Trailhead Park. | | Local Spring Valley man shoots wild boar
5/24/2011 | | Recently, Dick Harreld of Spring Valley, took a trip to the foothills of Sierra, Nevada, in Placer County, hoping to shoot a wild hog. | | Transporting Injured Raptors - You Can Help!
7/15/2011 | | What should you do if you find an injured hawk, eagle, or owl? The Houston Nature Center serves as a collection and transportation hub for the sick and injured raptors of this area since the nearest wildlife rehabilitators are in the Twin Cities, but we could use your help! This training session will teach you how to safely catch a grounded raptor, what to put it in, some initial health assessment... | |
| Business Announcements
Lanesboro library closing for renovations
12/22/2011 | | Lanesboro, MN - The Lanesboro Public Library reminds patrons to check out books before the new year, because it will be closed from January 2 through 16, 2012, for renovation. | | Meet Derrick Chapman
1/6/2012 | | Sethre Media Group is expanding in a new direction. Both the Fillmore County Journal and the Olmsted County Journal will be debuting new web sites soon, and with these sites will be the opportunity for businesses to advertise. Derrick Chapman has recently been hired as an online consultant and web design consultant. | | Local lineworkers head to Wisconsin to aid in power restoration
9/12/2011 | | Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TEC) sent four lineworkers to Friendship, Wis. earlier today to assist with power restoration efforts following a storm that rolled through its service territory. At one point Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative, which has 36,000 members, had 10,000 without power. | | Arlin Falck Foundation accepting grant applications
10/14/2011 | | Notice is hereby given that the Arlin Falck Foundation will accept applications for grants for community development, community promotions, community education, and similar matters. | | AgStar Fund solicits grant applications
10/14/2011 | | The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is proud to announce it is once again accepting grant applications for programs that enhance the quality of life and future opportunities for rural residents and their communalities. Recipients will be awarded up to $10,000 for projects or programs that align with the Fund's mission and fit strategically with the intent of our clients and the communities in which they live. | |
| Education
Kingsland School District receives $15,000 Early Childhood Grant from SMIF
Kevin Blanchard
11/25/2011 | | Superintendent John McDonald announced that the Kingsland School district received a $15,000 early childhood grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) for pre-school, school-aged child care and kindergarten programs at the school board meeting Monday, November 21. | | Chatfield Schools hold Truth in Taxation meeting
Mitchell Walbridge
12/22/2011 | The Chatfield School Board completed its final 2011 agenda at the regular monthly meeting on Monday, December 19. During this regular meeting, the board held its public Truth in Taxation hearing.
| | Fillmore Central students learning with virtual reality
Jade Wangen
12/22/2011 | The Fillmore Central School Board approved the final levy for 2012, which was the same as what was proposed this fall. The total levy is $1,621,231.60, which is a 5.54 percent increase from last year.
| | Fillmore Central art students display work
1/20/2012 | | The current show in the gallery at the Lanesboro Arts Center features student art from local high schools. One of the schools participating is Fillmore Central. Each year Fillmore Central students, along with those from Lanesboro, Chosen Valley, and Rushford-Peterson, have the opportunity to submit work to the gallery through their school to display as part of the annual student show. | | Fillmore Central hears audit report for 2010-2011
Jade Wangen
11/25/2011 | | At the regular board meeting on November 22, Fillmore Central received the audit report from Steve Salveson of Smith Schafer and Associates. Salveson went over the revenues and expenditures for different areas of the budget from 2010-2011. | |
| Real Bites
Real Bites - Sweet Stop and Sandwich Shoppe
By Jason Sethre jsethre@fillmorecountyjournal.com
5/23/2011 | | It's like a Friday lunchtime ritual at the Fillmore County Journal after the newspaper goes to press. All of our employees trickle up to The Sweet Stop & Sandwich Shoppe and relax with a sandwich, soup and some dessert. | | Friends in good places at Highway 44
Sheena Suckow
6/24/2011 | By Sheena Suckow
Life is crazy. Time flies by and before you know it, it's been 2 months since you talked to one of your best friends who, when you were in college, you didn't go one single day without talking to. I find this happening way to often in my life. | | Shawnee's serves up a slice of BBQ heaven
By Sheena Suckow
7/8/2011 | By Sheena Suckow
Do you remember as a kid the long list of foods you didn't like or were unwilling to try? What about the things you didn't like but couldn't live without now as an adult? The biggest two on my list: mustard and barbecue. They're two of my favorite flavors now but you'd have to pull my teeth out before I'd eat them as a youngster. | | Real Bites - Rhu-berry delight!
Sheena Suckow
6/10/2011 | By Sheena Suckow
Before heading to Rhino's Pizza and Sub Shoppe in Lanesboro last Friday night for supper, someone was telling me about a special kind of Spring Grove pop available now to go along with the Rhubarb festivities going on in Lanesboro for the weekend. A limited edition of Spring Grove Rhu-berry pop was specially made for Rhubarb Fest last year and available only in Lanesboro. | | Off the beaten path with the Highland Store
Sheena Suckow
6/17/2011 | By Sheena Suckow
When I decided to take on the Highland Store as my next Real Bites column, there was one problem I discovered. Where in bluff's country is it? Having not acquainted myself very well yet with the curving, nestled in small towns of the area I had no idea where I was headed. Luckily, I was talking with my Grandma and mom about it and decided it was just best to bring them along as a navigational tool since I was assuming my GPS wasn't going to lead me quite where I needed to go. | |
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